Q# Quantum Programming Language – NY Gift from Microsoft

22 Dec 2017

Read Time : 10 minutes

Get ready to feel the all new Christmas and New Year gift from Microsoft as the company launched a preview version of its new programming language for Quantum Computing called as Q# (it is spelled as Q sharp). The preview version of the Quantum development kit (Get Started) included Q# programming language, a quantum simulator for developers so that they can test and debug their quantum algorithms and other resources.

Microsoft’s description of Q# calls it “a domain-specific programming language used for expressing quantum algorithms. It is to be used for writing sub-programs that execute on an adjunct quantum processor, under the control of a classical host program and computer.”

In order to learn the quantum programming language, you need to get acquainted with Microsoft Visual Studio. It’s deeply integrated into Microsoft’s suite of developer tools and Visual Studio. As the quantum computers are rare, Microsoft’s quantum simulator will run those quantum programs for you. The local quantum simulator which comes with the kit can support programs using up to 30 logical quantum bits (qubits), on your local laptop avoiding the need to depend on a remote server. You can simulate more than 40 logical qubits of computing power with an Azure version of the simulator.

However, it is worth noting that in the race for quantum supremacy, IBM researchers have achieved an impossible step in quantum computing. The company has come up with a way to simulate quantum computers with 56 quantum bits, or qubits on a classical computer beating Google. Coming to Microsoft’s Quantum programming language, the applications developed with Q#, simulated using this kit will be supported by the general-purpose quantum computer when Microsoft creates it.

Ritam Dutta is an dedicated author of "Day On My Plate". He is an entrepreneur in mind and passionate blogger by heart. Moreover, he is also an academician, author, public speaker, investor, and internet personality.